Original Bullitt Returns To The Scene Of The Chase 50 Years Later

We recently travelled to San Francisco, California, to experience the 2019 Mustang Bullitt for the first time (check out our review on FordNXT), but we weren’t the only visitors to Fog City. Along with a throng of new Mustang Bullitts, the original movie car made its return to the city where it filmed that famous chase scene.

I think the car was a little nervous to be back here… — Sean Kiernan, Owner

Fresh off the boat back from the Goodwood Festival of Speed where it re-enacted the famed chase with a black Charger, the original movie car and its owner Sean Kiernan were on hand to help promote the latest Mustang inspired by the film. In fact, it was the production 2001 Mustang Bullitt that motivated Sean and his late father to get the car running again, but they didn’t dare turn it into some show-car perfect stallion.

Alongside the new 2019 Mustang Bullitt, the 1968 Mustang from the movie Bullitt made its first appearance in San Francisco, California, since it was on set filming with Steve McQueen.

“Restoring it to make it look like every other ’68 Fastback that had been restored would do it an injustice,” Sean told the San Francisco ABC television affiliate. “There’s so many dents and scrapes from that movie that it’s not a normal ’68 Fastback to restore.”

{ad:BLOCK}

Having been around the car when it reappeared at the North American International Auto Show and again during its return to San Francisco, we have to agree there is an authentic aura emanating from the car in its weathered form. Moreover, after retracing the movie chase path in the latest Bullitt, we aren’t even sure how the car survived two weeks of filming on those streets.

The car and its owner Sean Kiernan were in San Fran as part of a continuing tour promoting the new Bullitt Mustang and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic film.

“I think the car was a little nervous to be back here because the last time, 50 years ago, it kind of got beat up quite a bit,” Sean added.

The car is returning to Dearborn and is sure to appear at Mustang Alley at the Woodward Dream Cruise later this month. If you get a chance to see the car in person, we recommend doing so. And who knows, the car may yet again return to the city that made it famous.

“Thank you San Francisco for great views, great food, great people, and great roads!” Sean said on social media. “We’ll be back!”